Narrative and Stories in Healthcare

Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam and David Oliviere

Brings together a diversity of experience and perspectives of the use of narrative and stories, from leading international scholars and practitioners in the fields of both social science and palliative care

Considers the value and impact of narrative approaches in the delivery of palliative and end of life care including narrative medicine, research, education, therapy, rehabilitation, user involvement, spiritual, family and bereavement care

Identifies examples and methods/media of working more effectively with narratives in everyday clinical practice

Offers 'real-world' examples from international contributors including palliative care service users and those working in the social and human sciences, medicine, theology and the creative arts

Narrative and Stories in Healthcare

Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam and David Oliviere

Description

BL Brings together a diversity of experience and perspectives of the use of narrative and stories, from leading international scholars and practitioners in the social sciences and palliative careBL Considers the value, use and impact of narrative approaches in the delivery of palliative and end of life care including narrative medicine, research, education, therapy, rehabilitation, patient particiption, spiritual care, familyand bereavement careBL Identifies methods of working more effectively with narrative in everyday clinical practiceBL Engages with theoretical ideas and concepts from a range of disciplines

The use of narrative methods has a long history in palliative care, pioneered by Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern
hospice movement. Narrative and Stories in Health Care provides a vibrant, multidisciplinary examination of work with narrative and stories in contemporary health and social care, with a focus on the care of people who are ill and dying. It animates the academic literature with provocative 'real-world' examples from international contributors, including palliative care service users and those working in the social and human sciences, medicine, theology, and the creative arts.

Narrative and Stories in Health Care addresses and discusses key questions: What is a narrative? What is a story? What are some of the main methods and models that can be used and for what purposes? What practical and ethical dilemmas can the methods entail in work with illness, death and dying? As well as
highlighting the power of stories to create new possibilities, the book also acknowledges the conceptual, methodological and ethical problems and challenges inherent in narrative work.

As the hospice and palliative care movement evolves to meet the challenges of 21st century health care, this fascinating book highlights how narratives and stories can be attended to in ways that are productive, ethical, and caring.

Narrative and Stories in Healthcare

Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam and David Oliviere

Table of Contents

Section 1: Concepts and approaches 1. Narrative machinery, John Paley2. The possibilities of narrative palliative care medicine: 'Giving Sorrow Words', Sayantani Das Gupta, Craig Irvine & Maura Spiegel3. Narrative interviews and research, Yasmin Gunaratnam4. Narrative-based evidence in palliative care, Kim Devery5. Therapeutic writing: 'writing is a way of saying things I can't say', Gillie BoltonSection 2: Service and care development 6. Narrative, story and service evaluation - patients' stories and their consequences, Gail Eva7. Narrative and storytelling in palliative care education and training, Karen Forbes8. Patient and carer narratives and stories, Phil Cotterell, Helen Findlay & Ann Macfarlane9. Mediator
deathwork, Tony WalterSection 3: Working with patients and carers 10. The necessity and dangers of illness narratives, especially at the end of life, Arthur Frank11. Life story and life review, Irene Renzenbrink12. The meaning of illness and symptoms, Jonathan Koffman13. Spiritual care and attentiveness to narrative, Rachel Stanworth14. Bereavement, children and families, Patsy Way

Narrative and Stories in Healthcare

Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam and David Oliviere

Author Information

Yasmin Gunaratnam is a lecturer in the Sociology Department at Goldsmiths College (University of London) and has written in the field of race equality and health and social care. She is a published poet and is interested in the relationships between art and research. Yasmin has a particular interest in qualitative research methods and is author of 'Researching 'race' and ethnicity: methods, knowledge and power' (Sage, 2003). David Oliviere is a trained social worker and couple counsellor and works as Director of Education and Training, St Christopher's Hospice. David has written widely in palliative care, including edited books with Pam Firth and Gill Luff, "Loss, Change and Bereavement in Palliative Care", and with Barbara Monroe, "Patient Participation in
Palliative Care: a voice for the voiceless"; "Death, Dying and Social Differences"; and "Resilience and Palliative Care. Achievement in Adversity", Oxford University Press. David facilitates a number of user involvement activities at St Christopher's and his special interests include working with children and families, culture and ethnicity in palliative care and staff support.

Narrative and Stories in Healthcare

Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam and David Oliviere

Reviews and Awards

"This is a fascinating book that explains how stories and narratives can assist patients and their caregivers to make sense of their situation."--Doody's